The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

Call in the members. This is a five-minute bell.

The division bells rang from 1141 to 1146.

On October 25, 2022, Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, moved private member’s notice of motion number 69.

All those in favour of the motion will please rise one at a time and be recognized by the Clerk.

Motion agreed to.

Deferred vote on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 38, An Act to establish a framework for the licensing of supportive living accommodation / Projet de loi 38, Loi établissant un cadre pour la délivrance de permis d’exploitation de logements supervisés.

The division bells rang from 1151 to 1152.

All those in favour, please rise and remain standing until recognized by the Clerk.

Second reading negatived.

Thank you, Speaker. Her Honour awaits.

Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario entered the chamber of the Legislative Assembly and took her seat upon the throne.

Speaker, what a question from the member from Perth–Wellington this morning. He brings up some important facts, doesn’t he? It’s under the leadership of this Premier that this government, in five years, has 18,000 homes built or shovels in the ground today.

Now, let’s not get lost in the numbers. We need to build more, and we know that. The member mentions West Perth, which is fantastic, but those aren’t the only beds that have been announced since this government came to power. Let’s talk about Ritz Lutheran Villa, 128 redeveloped beds; Knollcrest Lodge, three new spaces; Saugeen Valley Nursing Home, 87 redeveloped spaces; and Strathcona Long Term Care, nine new spaces. Speaker, we’re going to keep going, because it’s not just about capacity. It’s about health human resources, investing nearly $5 billion to have the best quality of care and focusing on outcomes as well.

I want to thank the member from Perth–Wellington for a fantastic question this morning.

You know what this last Minister of Long-Term Care did, recognizing that construction was challenged with increased costs and supply chain challenges? He introduced the construction funding subsidy, which led to the building of over 11,000 spaces for our wonderful seniors in the province of Ontario. I want to thank the minister for that work.

But that’s not all he did. He introduced something called the Local Priorities Fund, which actually targets the outcomes within our health care system. That includes, of course, long-term-care homes.

Do you know what this member got in his riding? Let’s talk about it, Speaker: $8,700 to Spruce Lodge for the purchase of diagnostic equipment; $52,000 to Kingsway Lodge for the purchase of specialized geriatric equipment, as well as better outcomes for the dementia seniors who live there; $19,000 to Kingsway Lodge for the purchase of diagnostic equipment, and the list goes on, Speaker. Because why? If we can keep our seniors out of the hospitals for minor ailments, fractures, that’s a better outcome for the hard-working people of this province.

Let’s say it again: Seniors built this country. They took care of us. That member and this government is taking care of them.

It is an absolute pleasure to introduce Soha Sarfraz, a youth from Mississauga who is here for the first time and is exploring a career in politics.

Soha, welcome to Queen’s Park.

In His Majesty’s name, Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor assents to these bills.

Au nom de Sa Majesté, Son Honneur la lieutenante-gouverneure sanctionne ces projets de loi.

I’ve told you before that whenever I walk into this special place, I’m absolutely in awe and very humbled by what it is that we get to do together in the interests of the people of this province. This has been a remarkable journey. It has been the position of a lifetime, and for that I’m grateful. In fact, the word I was thinking about as I walked in this morning was actually one of gratitude.

This is an amazing province. It’s a province with such a proud history. It’s a province that is so full of promise and possibility. The future is so very bright. And I can say that because I’ve been so well received in hundreds and thousands of places around this province. I’ve had conversations, as you suggest, Mr. Speaker, with people who have told me their ambitions, their aspirations for themselves and their families, and they’ve also shared their stories of pain and agony and grief that we’ve all gone through together in the last few years.

But I can also point confidently to the promise of this province because I see the work that all of you do every day. It is a career. It’s a calling that is a daily event in your lives, and the effort you make is noticed. I see at times your creativity, your courage, your compassion and your overall desire to shape this place, this province we live in—to shape it in a way that is going to be better for your constituents and their families.

For me, it has been the privilege of a lifetime. It has been such a great opportunity to represent Their Majesties; to try to provide tradition, continuity, stability under trying times—but, for me, to be able to be a small part in encouraging Ontario to be the very best that it can be, to be a society that is caring and resilient, to be a society that is committed more than ever to the safeguarding of democracy, reconciliation and also sustainability.

Mr. Premier and all members of this House, thank you so much for the respect that you’ve always shown me and the office which I hold. I know that you will continue that with my successor.

So one last time, Mr. Speaker, may I wish each and every one of you continued good health and so much happiness and fulfillment. Be kind to one another. Thank you. Merci. Meegwetch.

Applause.

Applause.

Her Honour was then pleased to retire.

Your Honour, when we gathered in May to mark the coronation of King Charles III, I remarked that you have the very same commitment to public service as the late Queen you served. It is tireless, it is genuine, and it is total. And the parallels don’t end there. Like the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, yours has been the longest tenure of service by a Lieutenant Governor in the history of Ontario.

Over the years, you have focused on building resilience and sustainability through inclusive prosperity, environmental stewardship and social cohesion, as well as safeguarding democracy. But the promotion of these values is not only the focus of your mandate as Lieutenant Governor; these are themes you have advanced throughout your life.

In the introduction to the Speaking of Democracy exhibit, you wrote that “an enduring and healthy democracy means getting involved,” and, Your Honour, your involvement has been a shining example for all of us. Since your installation in 2014, you have attended literally thousands of events in all 124 provincial ridings, making over 100 official visits to municipalities and over 25 visits to First Nations communities.

One such community event that you attended took place in Wellington–Halton Hills on a Sunday afternoon last September. As you may recall, you had been invited to Wellington Place by the Fergus Legion to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. But, sadly, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had passed away just a few days earlier. Notwithstanding your own feelings of loss, you kept your commitment, and your gracious presence and comforting manner turned the event into a celebration of Her late Majesty’s life.

Ma’am, your message was uplifting and inspiring, exactly what we needed to hear that day and, when you finished speaking, sadness had been turned to joy. You made the effort to visit every table and to chat with every person there. This was just one day in your life as vice regal, but you have done this everywhere you have gone for more than eight years.

You engage with Ontarians at community events, round tables, award ceremonies—and even online, since COVID changed the way we work, meet and share—continually encouraging people to listen to each other and to engage in meaningful dialogue. Our Parliament and our province are better because of Your Honour’s dedicated, selfless and passionate service.

Thank you, God bless you, and God save the King.

Applause.

The House recessed from 1210 to 1300.

Report deemed adopted.

Madame Collard moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr32, An Act to revive Allied Contractors (Kitchener) Limited.

First reading agreed to.

Tomorrow is Friday, October 27, and as the official opposition critic for children, community and social services, I’m proud to talk about the significance of tomorrow, Dress Purple Day.

On Dress Purple Day, children’s aid societies and Indigenous child and family well-being agencies across Ontario will highlight the role that individuals and communities play in supporting the safety and well-being of children, youth and their families.

We must all join this call to action and awareness. Our support means we acknowledge, recognize and want to be an active part of the solution for children, youth and their families in all of our communities across the province.

We know the kinds of challenges families are facing, which are affecting them more than ever and more often, from food and housing insecurity to mental health and addictions to intimate partner violence. These are the very challenges our communities are struggling to overcome. These are the calls, emails and interactions that we are having daily with our families, friends, neighbours, constituents, stakeholders, community partners and leaders.

When a cry for help comes to our offices, we look for a solution. We share the resources and the tools. We make connections to services and supports that are usually overwhelmed, underfunded or simply pushed to the brink of capacity or, worse yet, closure. All too often, the cries overwhelm the solutions and the referral wheel once again is entered. Asks become survival. Children and youth take on too much weight to bear. Healthy relationships are tough and far between, and tough decisions are made, including housing options, education and health care. Vulnerable situations are escalated, the daily flood of our daily actions and thoughts which take over the day-to-day of so many, especially our children and youth.

Children and youth should be growing up in a world which is supporting them. They should be making lasting memories, learning free from violence in a safe and supportive classroom; building their sense of belonging, their place in the community, their social strength built on love, hope and ambition. They should have the confidence that we are all working together for their futures, their health and their safety, including their mental and physical well-being.

The Dress Purple campaign emphasizes key messaging that is important to share. Here are a few quotes: “We want anyone facing challenges to know that they are part of a community that cares.” “There is help and support.” “You are not alone.”

Here is a quote from Solomon Owoo, interim CEO of the OACAS. He says, “We encourage all Ontarians to come together and send a powerful message to children, youth and families on October 27. We want them to know that there are resources available if they need help, and that they are not alone.”

The campaign also emphasizes the community’s responsibility to speak up for every child and youth’s right to safety and well-being in all spaces, not just their physical safety and well-being, but also their right to have intersectional identity—such as their culture, race, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression—protected and supported. This right extends to the home, the group home, at school and in the community.

We have a collective responsibility to promote the safety and well-being of children and young people in our communities. It is critical we help young people build strong networks of support. Helping children and youth develop strong connections can lessen their vulnerability to harm and can help them recognize where they can turn when they need support.

Solomon went on to say, “Promoting the safety, health, and well-being of children, youth, and families requires system-level thinking. It requires critical self-reflection on the part of child and family service system partners at all levels, from community-based organizations and children’s aid societies to the Ontario government. Dress Purple Day is an opportunity to reflect on the work ahead towards a child and family service system that consistently delivers high-quality, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, community-based care.”

While the focus of the campaign has shifted away from child abuse prevention education, we still want to remind adults of Katelynn’s Principle, that they have a responsibility to call on their local child welfare agency if they have a concern about a child or youth. On Dress Purple Day and every day, let’s all show children, youth and families across this province that they are part of a community that cares and that they matter.

Response?

It’s an honour today to rise with my colleagues to reaffirm our support for children and youth, especially our most vulnerable children and youth, on Dress Purple Day and to reaffirm my commitment to working across party lines to support children and youth in our communities.

For years, children’s aid societies, Indigenous and child and family well-being associations in Ontario have used the month of October to remind the public about their role in keeping children and youth in our communities across this province safe. Dress Purple Day is about protecting and supporting children and youth and strengthening families through enhanced community-based prevention and early intervention. It’s also an opportunity to address systemic discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, ability, poverty and sexual orientation that can lead to overrepresentation in surveillance of families in certain communities.

Every child and youth in Ontario has the right to feel safe. Every child and youth in Ontario has a right to be well cared for—their physical and mental health and their community connections. On Dress Purple Day, we have a role to play to help vulnerable families and children and youth to feel supported.

With the focus on prevention, I want to talk about the important work of addressing adverse childhood experiences. I want to give a shout-out to Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington and their partners who have a coalition addressing adverse childhood experiences. We know that by addressing adverse childhood experiences, we strengthen youth resiliency, we prevent challenges happening later in life and we improve the quality of life of children, youth and their families.

I also want to just highlight the importance of addressing the mental health challenges that so many young people are facing and the importance of investing in things like youth wellness hubs and other supports for young people to make them more resilient and to make sure we address adverse childhood experiences and that we ensure youth have the supports they need.

I’m honoured to rise today to speak about Dress Purple Day and highlight the important role that we all play in supporting vulnerable children, youth and families year-round. The children in our lives deserve our love, encouragement and safekeeping. I am firm in my stance that any child at any time has a trusting and supportive voice in me, in this chamber, in Beaches–East York and in confidence.

Dress Purple Day is hosted every October to raise awareness of the critical work that children’s aid societies do. They are integral community organizations that are part of the circle of care that promotes the well-being of children, youth and families. Dress Purple Day brings attention to the early help and supportive services available to families facing challenges and to the prevention and early intervention work children’s aid societies do to guide families and keep children and youth at home. They are strongly committed to assisting everyone with informed, anti-racist, equitable policies that protect the needs of Indigenous and Black and African Canadian communities. We have an obligation to keep the children in our communities safe. Beyond being kind role models for children, they should be able to come to us to find resources and to share concerns.

In my riding of beautiful Beaches–East York, we are lucky to have a plethora of organizations and spaces making the world a brighter place for children. Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub is a welcoming space for youth health and wellness offering free services and fun. Michael Garron Hospital’s Child and Youth Anxiety Clinic provides clinical care and mental health services for children and teenagers. We have active Girl Guides and Scouts Canada programs.

As representatives, we have the opportunity to provide children and families with the resources they need to live happily and free from harm. We can work together with children’s aid societies in our areas and advocate for fulsome funding for their services. Children need and deserve safe communities that include trusted adults. Dress Purple Day is a reminder for us all to create a world that fosters this.

Keep children safe, happy and flourishing so they are ready to be the change-makers of the future. Dress purple on October 27 to show your support.

I’m proud to read this petition for the first time in the House. The petition is entitled “Stop Billing Recipients of OW and ODSP for Ambulance Transportation.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas ambulance fees for OW, ODSP and GAINS recipients are waived under the Ontario Works Act, the Ontario Disability Support Program Act and Family Benefits Act;

“Whereas these recipients are still initially billed every time they are transported to the hospital and must have the fee waived after they receive care;

“Whereas this mechanism causes anxiety for those who are entitled to have their bill covered and additional work for caseworkers and health care workers;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government of Ontario to:

“—immediately eliminate billing recipients of OW, ODSP and GAINS for their essential use of ambulance transportation to the hospital;

“—implement a program, like the easy-to-use Fair Pass Transit Discount Program, where OW, ODSP and GAINS recipients may upload proof of income and make it subject to renewal annually;

“—to not include hidden fees or mechanisms that take from initiatives or programs that are specifically designed for recipients of OW, ODSP and GAINS who have high health care needs.”

I will proudly affix my signature to this petition, send it to the centre table and also give my gratitude in extension to the hard work of Katias Yee, who is in the House today, for collecting these signatures.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario Place has been a cherished public space for over 50 years, providing joy, recreation and cultural experiences for Ontarians and tourists alike and holds cultural and historical significance as a landmark that symbolizes Ontario’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and public engagement;

“Whereas redevelopment that includes a private, profit-driven venture by an Austrian spa company prioritizes commercial interests over the needs and desires of the people of Ontario, and it is estimated that the cost to prepare the grounds for redevelopment and build a 2,000-car underground garage will cost approximately $650 million;

“Whereas there are concerns of cronyism by Mark Lawson, Therme Group Canada’s vice-president of comms and external relations, who” previously held a position of deputy chief of staff in the Premier’s office;

“Whereas meaningful public consultations with diverse stakeholders have not been adequately conducted and the Ontario NDP has sent a letter of support for a public request to begin an investigation into a value-for-money and compliance audit with respect to proposed redevelopment of Ontario Place;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to halt any further development plans for Ontario Place, engage in meaningful and transparent public consultations to gather input and ideas for the future of Ontario Place, develop a comprehensive and sustainable plan for the revitalization of Ontario Place that prioritizes environmental sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity, and ensure that any future development of Ontario Place is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner, with proper oversight, public input and adherence to democratic processes.”

I proudly sign this petition and will send it to the centre table with page Michael.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate to cover the rising costs of food and rent: $733 for individuals on OW and $1,308 for ODSP;

“Whereas an open letter to the Premier and two cabinet ministers, signed by over 230 organizations, recommends that social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works ... and the Ontario Disability Support Program...;

“Whereas small increases to ODSP have still left these citizens below the poverty line. Both they and those receiving the frozen OW rates are struggling to survive at this time of alarming inflation;

“Whereas the government of Canada recognized in its CERB program that a ‘basic income’ of $2,000 per month was the standard support required by individuals who lost their employment during the pandemic;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for OW and ODSP.”

I agree with this petition, will affix my signature and give it to page Danté to bring to the table.

This petition is titled “Save Ontario Place” and it reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario Place has been a cherished public space for over 50 years, providing joy, recreation and cultural experiences for Ontarians and tourists alike and holds cultural and historical significance as a landmark that symbolizes Ontario’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and public engagement;

“Whereas redevelopment that includes a private, profit-driven venture by an Austrian spa company prioritizes commercial interests over the needs and desires of the people of Ontario, and it is estimated that the cost to prepare the grounds for redevelopment and build a 2,000-car underground garage will cost approximately $650 million;...

“Whereas meaningful public consultations with diverse stakeholders have not been adequately conducted and the Ontario NDP has sent a letter of support for a public request to begin an investigation into a value-for-money and compliance audit with respect to proposed redevelopment of Ontario Place;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to halt any further development plans for Ontario Place, engage in meaningful and transparent public consultations to gather input and ideas for the future of Ontario Place, develop a comprehensive and sustainable plan for the revitalization of Ontario Place that prioritizes environmental sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity, and ensure that any future development of Ontario Place is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner, with proper oversight, public input and adherence to democratic processes.”

I couldn’t agree more. I will affix my signature and pass it on to the page.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas ambulance fees for OW, ODSP and GAINS recipients are waived under the Ontario Works Act, Ontario Disability Support Program Act and Family Benefits Act;

“Whereas these recipients are still initially billed every time they are transported to the hospital and must have the fee waived after they receive care;

“Whereas this mechanism causes anxiety for those who are entitled to have their bill covered and additional work for caseworkers and health care workers;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the government of Ontario to:

“—immediately eliminate billing recipients of OW, ODSP and GAINS for their essential use of ambulance transportation to the hospital;

“—implement a program, like the easy-to-use Fair Pass Transit Discount Program, where OW, ODSP and GAINS recipients may upload proof of income and make it subject to renewal annually;

“—to not include hidden fees or mechanisms that take from initiatives or programs that are specifically designed for recipients of OW, ODSP and GAINS who have high health care needs.”

I, too, want to thank Katias for the signatures on this petition and I’m happy to affix my signature to it.

This petition is entitled “Stop Ford’s Health Care Privatization Plan.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontarians should get health care based on need—not the size of your wallet;

“Whereas Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones say they’re planning to privatize parts of health care;

“Whereas privatization will bleed nurses, doctors and PSWs out of our public hospitals, making the health care crisis worse;

“Whereas privatization always ends with patients getting a bill;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately stop all plans to further privatize Ontario’s health care system, and fix the crisis in health care by:

“—repealing Bill 124 and recruiting, retaining and respecting doctors, nurses and PSWs with better pay and better working conditions;

“—licensing tens of thousands of internationally educated nurses and other health care professionals already in Ontario, who wait years and pay thousands to have their credentials certified;

“—making education and training free or low-cost for nurses, doctors and other health care professionals;

“—incentivizing doctors and nurses to choose to live and work in northern Ontario;

“—funding hospitals to have enough nurses on every shift, on every ward.”

I fully support this petition, and will sign it and give it to Margo.

I’m just trying to see—what have I got, 16 minutes left? Is that what that says?

Interjection: Six.

I just wanted to give the members an update from this morning about the St. Lawrence Seaway. I listened to the news at 12 o’clock, and if that dispute doesn’t get settled in the next two days there’s going to be a number of communities in the province of Ontario that have no gas. So do whatever you can do to talk to your leadership, to get a hold of the federal government as well to put some pressure to get that resolved. It’s really going to start to hit home in the next couple of days.

I want to start where I left off. I was talking about access to local health services, essential for the well-being of our communities. I’m going to turn my attention to Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s concerning that there’s a lack of primary care services in my town. We know—or we should know, people who have been to Niagara-on-the-Lake—you closed the hospital there in Niagara-on-the-Lake, so we don’t have a hospital in Niagara-on-the-Lake anymore, unfortunately. I believe, as I said in my question this morning to the health minister, every resident deserves access to a family doctor or a nurse practitioner, yet many are left without this basic health care need. I am fully aware of the urgency of the situation and I have been actively advocating for a solution.

The arrival of a nurse practitioner in Niagara-on-the-Lake would be a positive step, not only for the residents but also for this government. Nurse practitioners play a critical role in our health care system, providing essential primary care services. They could bridge the gap and ensure that residents have access to timely and reliable health care. We cannot afford essential health care facilities like Fort Erie urgent care to close. We must work to prevent the privatization of our health care system.

Again, I’m going to talk just a little bit about Fort Erie: 25% of the residents in Fort Erie are seniors. You guys stand up and talk about how much you care about seniors. We have to do better for them. The residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake deserve access to primary care services, and the introduction of a nurse practitioner could be a great step moving forward. Unlike the government, I remain committed to advocating for the health care needs of our community and will continue to fight for better health care services for all—including in your ridings, by the way.

Madam Speaker, let’s take a look at the name of this bill. It includes two very common Conservative catchphrases: “cut red tape”—we’ve heard that before, many times, even in this House—but the one that they’ve added, which is why I’m arguing I can continue to speak on this, is “common sense.” I think everything I’m bringing forward today is common sense. We heard it for eight years under the Mike Harris government. What happened when they brought forward common sense was they closed hospitals, they laid off nurses—again, all in the name of cutting red tape. I’m trying to figure out why we go down this path of saying “common sense.”

The rationale is always about supporting businesses—“We need to cut red tape to allow business to thrive in this province.” However, they very rarely mean small or medium-sized businesses. Look how they are currently treating Ontario’s wine industry, a very, very important industry not only to Niagara but I believe right across the province of Ontario.

We have, without a doubt, some of the best small and medium-size wineries in the world. They are fighting to ensure this government listens to them and provides the necessary support for them to flourish. We have the potential to really grow that industry in Niagara. I know there’s been lots of proposals being talked about with the government, but if they want to cut red tape—and this is certainly one that can fall under “it’s not in the bill but it should be”—they could start with the 6.1% basic tax here on wineries here in Ontario.

Ontario’s wine industry has come a long way, and it now stands as one of the jewels in the crown of our province’s agricultural sector. This industry has seen remarkable growth, and the Niagara region has played a pivotal role in this success story. With its unique microclimate and fertile soil, Niagara has become the best of Ontario’s grape production. The region boasts some of the best wineries, numerous vineyards, and is home to an impressive number of wineries, making it a world-renowned wine-producing region.

This is really interesting; you should listen to this. Niagara has a very distinct climate. It’s responsible for a significant portion of grapes that are used in the production of high-quality Ontario wines. You may or may not know—the members who are listening—that 90% of the grapes are grown in Niagara—90%. It shows how valuable the grape industry is and the wine industry is to Niagara. These grapes give our wines that unique and delightful character, and I’m sure everybody in the House who has tried Niagara wines will say they taste great. The Niagara region is a beacon for wine enthusiasts and tourists from around the globe and it plays an essential role in promoting Ontario’s rich heritage.

Here’s how we can fix it and we can cut red tape: Promoting local wines through the LCBO is crucial for the success of our homegrown wineries. By enhancing the presence of local wines on LCBO shelves, we not only support our local winemakers; we also give the consumer more opportunity to experience the unique flavours our province has to offer.

What’s happening in Niagara—and I’m meeting with them tomorrow—is we have grapes that are going to sit on the vines and they’re probably just going to end up on the ground because we continue to allow, on some of our wines that aren’t VQA 100% Ontario wines, blended wineries. We end up importing grapes, importing wine into our communities. It makes no sense. So I’m really asking the government to really listen to the grape industry to make sure that our grapes are 100% grown in Ontario and are not going to rot on the vine. I don’t have the number, but I believe it’s something like $40 million. It’s something that I really want to—

The petition is entitled “National Chronic Pain Society petition.”

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas one in four Ontarians over the age of 15 suffer from chronic pain, with 73% reporting that the pain interferes with their daily lives and more than half reporting issues with depression and suicidal thoughts; and

“Whereas pain is the most common reason to seek health care, with chronic pain making up approximately 16% of emergency room visits and 38% of frequent visits, adding to the already lengthy wait times and delaying treatment; and

“Whereas the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) is proposing to limit the number of nerve block injections a pain sufferer can receive to 16 per year, regardless of the severity of the patient’s condition or the number of injections needed, and seemingly without any consultations with patients or health care workers; and

“Whereas the most common treatment for pain provided by family doctors and hospitals is opioids, despite the current national crisis leading to an estimated 20 opioid-related deaths in Canada every day during the COVID-19 pandemic;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Prevent OHIP from applying a one-size-fits-all solution to the issue of chronic pain, and allow for consultations with health care workers and pain sufferers to determine the best way to treat chronic pain without resorting to opioids.”

I will sign this petition and return it to the table with page Danté.

Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have for petitions.

Resuming the debate adjourned on October 26, 2023, on the motion for second reading of the following bill:

Bill 139, An Act to amend various Acts / Projet de loi 139, Loi modifiant diverses lois.

I’d like to thank Dr. Sally Palmer for her tireless efforts in bringing these petitions to the House. This is titled “to Raise Social Assistance Rates” and it reads:

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas Ontario’s social assistance rates are well below Canada’s official Market Basket Measure poverty line and far from adequate to cover the rising costs of food and rent: $733 for individuals on OW and $1,227 for ODSP;

“Whereas an open letter to the Premier and two cabinet ministers, signed by over 230 organizations, recommends that social assistance rates be doubled for both Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP);

“Whereas the recent small increase of 5% for ODSP still leaves these citizens below the poverty line, both they and those receiving the frozen OW rates are struggling to survive at this time of alarming inflation;

“Whereas the government of Canada recognized in its CERB program that a ‘basic income’ of $2,000 per month was the standard support required by individuals who lost their employment during the pandemic;

“We, the undersigned citizens of Ontario, petition the Legislative Assembly to double social assistance rates for OW and ODSP.”

I could not agree more and will affix my signature to it.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas mental health care is health care;

“Whereas the mental health crisis facing Ontarians has gotten worse with the pandemic;

“Whereas BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ folks, women and people with disabilities have historically faced significant barriers to accessing equitable health care services due to systemic discrimination;

“Whereas registered psychotherapists provide vital mental health services, especially as an early intervention;

“Whereas a 13% tax added to the cost of receiving psychotherapy services is another barrier for Ontarians seeking this vital care;

“Whereas registered psychotherapists are still required to collect HST from clients, while most other mental health professionals have been exempted;

“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to pass the Making Psychotherapy Services Tax-Free Act, 2023.”

I support this petition, will affix my signature to it and give it to page Paxten.

I apologize to the member. Just on a point of order, standing order 59, I’ll outline business for next week.

In the morning we will have Bill 136, which is the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act; in the afternoon, Bill 142, Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act.

On Tuesday, October 31, in the morning, Bill 142, Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act; in the afternoon, Bill 136, Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act; and in the evening, the private member’s business standing in the name of the member for Richmond Hill, Bill 137, Planning for Your Silver Years Awareness Week Act.

On Wednesday, November 1, in the morning, Bill 136, which is the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act; in the afternoon, Bill 142, Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act; and in the evening, Bill 67.

On Thursday, November 2, in the morning, again back to Bill 142; in the afternoon routine, the Minister of Finance will deliver the fall economic statement; and in the afternoon, we will return to Bill 136.